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Ref: 212/08 27 June 2008
No Boys To Be Admitted To Girls’ Sixth Form - Adjudicator Ruling
Sandbach High School cannot admit boys to its sixth form in 2009, 2010 and 2011, an independent adjudicator has ruled.
The decision, published today (Friday), follows objections from Cheshire County Council, Sandbach School and Cheshire Admissions Forum.
The adjudicator, Dr Elizabeth Passmore, said she was not persuaded that the girls’ school has evidence to support its claim that pressure for educating boys in its sixth form has come from parents and students.
She ruled that the school does not have good reason for acting contrary to the advice of the Cheshire Admissions Forum about sixth form provision in Sandbach.
Children’s Services Executive Member David Rowlands said: “We welcome the adjudicator’s ruling which supports our belief that the unilateral decision to admit boys to Sandbach High Sixth Form is not the best way to achieve collaboration between it and Sandbach School, which is the outcome so many people in the town wish to see.
“A consultation exercise held last year into changes to sixth form opportunities in Sandbach demonstrated that admitting boys to the girls’ school is not an arrangement favoured by students and parents, who voted it the least preferred of four options.
“In making today’s ruling, the adjudicator recommended that proper attention should now be given to meeting the desire of the large number of students and parents who wish to see effective collaboration between the two schools.
“Collaborative working is an arrangement we have long favoured and we will continue to work with both schools to look at how we may develop this for the benefit of students.”
The ruling will not affect boys admitted to the girls’ school sixth form under the admission arrangements for September 2008.
Schools adjudicators are independent of the Government. They decide on school organisation issues, disputes on land transfer and assets and admission arrangements which cannot be resolved locally.
RN/KT
Notes to Editors: For further information please contact County Councillor Rowlands on 01244 300655. |